Basics On Couples Counseling Chicago Families Should Know

By Jason Ellis


Every relationship is characterized by highs and lows. Married couples have to handle problems of varying complexity from time to time and depending on the nature of the problem, an agreement or a disagreement may be the end result. Occasional disagreements are not abnormal but if frequent and emotive, there may be a need for therapy. Before registering for couples counseling Chicago residents should know a number of things.

The decision to undergo therapy is not an easy one to make. For most people, couples counseling is considered as a last resort when all other mediation efforts have been unsuccessful. It is not advisable to wait until the situation deteriorates for the parties to seek help from a professional. As a matter of fact, even partners that are enjoying a fairly stable relationship may need to make an occasional visit to the therapist.

Once the decision to seek help has made, the next step is to identify the therapist. Recommendations can be obtained from friends, relatives and even from testimonials found on the internet. If there is no a therapist nearby, a number of health professionals may step in as they too have some training in this area. They include medical doctors, registered nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists.

The length of therapy varies depending on the severity of the problem. In general there are short term therapies and long term therapies. Short term therapies have a duration of between one and three sessions (focused therapy is a sub-type that lasts a lot shorter) while the long term therapies are anything between 12 and 24 sessions. The average time taken during a single session is 30 to 45 minutes.

For the therapy to be successful, each party to the process must recognize the fact that each individual has a unique personality with a distinct value system. Being party to different institutions and societal organizations may mean that behaviors may vary to some extent. It is not always possible to get other people to agree with our beliefs. Counseling focuses on solving underlying problems by helping partners reach a compromise position with regard to their beliefs.

Every problem has a history. Some of the issues that couples have to deal with take months or years before they become evident. It is important for couples to recognize the origin of their problems if they are to deal with them effectively. Poor communication may be the reason as to why some of the problems take quite long to solve. The partners need to learn how to talk to each other on a regular basis.

The therapist will not tell couple what to do to make things work. Their main role is to facilitate the process of communication between the two. Although they may offer their personal opinion, the ultimate solution will have to come from the couple. The partners should be free to open up since therapist is not there to pass judgment. You may be advised to do some assignments at home and bring feedback in subsequent sessions.

There are many causes of conflicts in marital relationships. They include, among others, extramarital affairs, lack of trust, failure to meet assigned responsibilities, family conflicts, differences in parenting styles and so on. In couples counselling, the partners get a chance to learn more about their differences and how best they can negotiate to bridge them. Communication is emphasized as an important problem solving tool.




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